SAN JOSE – In hindsight, the Sharks probably would have been better off naming their captain any day other than the one in which another of their players was issued the second-longest suspension in NHL history.
Still, Monday’s announcement that Joe Pavelski would become the ninth full-time captain in the history of the franchise was met with the same types of feelings that have been palpable since the start of training camp under new coach Pete DeBoer.
Feelings of moving forward. Feelings of forgetting the past 17 messy months. Feelings of focused preparation for the season opener on Wednesday, and the 81 games that will follow.